been a weaker human carrying
a woman over his shoulder.
“Follow him,” Tiger urged. “Don’t let him out of your
sight.”
“I’m going to kill them,” Valiant swore.
“That’s why we’re sticking close. You’re so agitated
that you might get her and us killed.” Tiger closed the
distance between them, keeping close behind him. “Think
before you act.”
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to save her.”
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to save her.”
“That’s what we’re afraid of,” Rider sighed. “We want
to rescue the female too but be smart about it.”
“Leave him alone,” Brass growled. “I understand
wanting to protect a female. I am very close to Trisha.
They aren’t as strong as our females and this Tammy
won’t be able to defend herself. That’s why I wanted to
come along. Harley and Moon wished to come as well
but knew you didn’t want to overwhelm the humans with
too many of us. If these males have harmed Val’s female
he should get to kill them. They are assholes who need
killing.”
Valiant snarled in agreement.
“Great. Really helpful, Brass.” Tiger shot him a glare.
Brass shrugged. “It’s the truth.”
A high-pitched scream rent the air, coming from the
east, and Valiant responded at the pained call of his
woman. He threw back his head as he darted forward to
find her.
* * * * *
“She’s going to say whatever the hell you want her
to, Paul. See?” Mark laughed. “It’s all just a matter of
convinc—”
A loud roar suddenly shattered the night. Tammy’s
ears rang from the sound. She’d heard that roar before.
Valiant was out there and close.
Tammy glared at the jerk who pinned her down. He
frantically swiveled his head toward the woods around
them, searching for the source.
“What in the fuck was that?” Ned inched closer to the
fire, peering around the woods.
“I don’t know,” Terry whispered. “It was close.”
“Was that a lion?” Ned whispered. “A re those
common in this part of northern California?”
“I don’t know,” Mark whispered back. “I know they
have cougars and bobcats in mountainous areas.” His
hand eased away from her breast and he fumbled behind
his back at his waist. “It’s close though. Prepare for an
attack. Her screams probably drew it, thinking there’s
food to be had.” He withdrew a handgun he’d had tucked
in his waistband under his shirt.
“That didn’t sound like either one.” Terry reached
down, tugged up the leg of his jeans and revealed a gun
holster. He yanked the weapon out as he straightened.
“Whatever it is, it’s nearby.”
Tammy sucked air into her lungs and screamed
again, despite her sore throat. She wanted Valiant to find
her and figured it would make it easier if she helped.
“Shut her up.” Ned sounded panicked.
Mark gripped her jaw to force her mouth closed. He
glared down at her. “Do it again and I’ll smother you
until you pass out.”
Ned and Terry moved away from Tammy. Her relief
was instant that their focus wasn’t on her anymore. They
took positions around the fire to watch the woods. Her
heart hammered with hope that Valiant would save her.
How does he know I’m in trouble? Why did he come for
me? Does it matter? Hell no. He’s here.
It had to be Valiant unless there were other New
Species who could roar the way he could. That was
possible. Either way, she knew nothing lived in the area
before the New Species arrived that could make that kind
of roar. It had to be one of them and she’d never been so
grateful in her life to have them as neighbors.
A howl broke the silence, startling Mark. Ned cursed
softly, spun to face another section of woods, and his
gun lifted. “Shit.”
Mark looked terrified as he jerked his head around.
“Was that a wolf?”
“A wolf and a lion?” Terry hissed a curse. “Shit. It’s
not real animals out there. It’s them. Those damn two-
legged animals.”
A
a woman over his shoulder.
“Follow him,” Tiger urged. “Don’t let him out of your
sight.”
“I’m going to kill them,” Valiant swore.
“That’s why we’re sticking close. You’re so agitated
that you might get her and us killed.” Tiger closed the
distance between them, keeping close behind him. “Think
before you act.”
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to save her.”
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to save her.”
“That’s what we’re afraid of,” Rider sighed. “We want
to rescue the female too but be smart about it.”
“Leave him alone,” Brass growled. “I understand
wanting to protect a female. I am very close to Trisha.
They aren’t as strong as our females and this Tammy
won’t be able to defend herself. That’s why I wanted to
come along. Harley and Moon wished to come as well
but knew you didn’t want to overwhelm the humans with
too many of us. If these males have harmed Val’s female
he should get to kill them. They are assholes who need
killing.”
Valiant snarled in agreement.
“Great. Really helpful, Brass.” Tiger shot him a glare.
Brass shrugged. “It’s the truth.”
A high-pitched scream rent the air, coming from the
east, and Valiant responded at the pained call of his
woman. He threw back his head as he darted forward to
find her.
* * * * *
“She’s going to say whatever the hell you want her
to, Paul. See?” Mark laughed. “It’s all just a matter of
convinc—”
A loud roar suddenly shattered the night. Tammy’s
ears rang from the sound. She’d heard that roar before.
Valiant was out there and close.
Tammy glared at the jerk who pinned her down. He
frantically swiveled his head toward the woods around
them, searching for the source.
“What in the fuck was that?” Ned inched closer to the
fire, peering around the woods.
“I don’t know,” Terry whispered. “It was close.”
“Was that a lion?” Ned whispered. “A re those
common in this part of northern California?”
“I don’t know,” Mark whispered back. “I know they
have cougars and bobcats in mountainous areas.” His
hand eased away from her breast and he fumbled behind
his back at his waist. “It’s close though. Prepare for an
attack. Her screams probably drew it, thinking there’s
food to be had.” He withdrew a handgun he’d had tucked
in his waistband under his shirt.
“That didn’t sound like either one.” Terry reached
down, tugged up the leg of his jeans and revealed a gun
holster. He yanked the weapon out as he straightened.
“Whatever it is, it’s nearby.”
Tammy sucked air into her lungs and screamed
again, despite her sore throat. She wanted Valiant to find
her and figured it would make it easier if she helped.
“Shut her up.” Ned sounded panicked.
Mark gripped her jaw to force her mouth closed. He
glared down at her. “Do it again and I’ll smother you
until you pass out.”
Ned and Terry moved away from Tammy. Her relief
was instant that their focus wasn’t on her anymore. They
took positions around the fire to watch the woods. Her
heart hammered with hope that Valiant would save her.
How does he know I’m in trouble? Why did he come for
me? Does it matter? Hell no. He’s here.
It had to be Valiant unless there were other New
Species who could roar the way he could. That was
possible. Either way, she knew nothing lived in the area
before the New Species arrived that could make that kind
of roar. It had to be one of them and she’d never been so
grateful in her life to have them as neighbors.
A howl broke the silence, startling Mark. Ned cursed
softly, spun to face another section of woods, and his
gun lifted. “Shit.”
Mark looked terrified as he jerked his head around.
“Was that a wolf?”
“A wolf and a lion?” Terry hissed a curse. “Shit. It’s
not real animals out there. It’s them. Those damn two-
legged animals.”
A
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